September is a turning point in the gardening calendar, a month in which we’re preparing our plants - as we are ourselves - for the colder months.

Sarah and Josie join forces this week to share the key jobs you should prioritise at this point in the year - from focusing on your edibles to deadheading your dahlias. September is also the time to plant out your biennials before the cold sets in, start forcing bulbs, and take cuttings of your tender perennials.

Products mentioned:

Mustards (Hardy Mustard Mix): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hardy-mustard-mix

Salad Rocket (‘Serrata’): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salad-rocket-serrata

Mizuna: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/mizuna

Winter Purslane: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/winter-purslane

Coriander (‘Leisure’): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/coriander-leaf-form-leisure

Flat-leaf Parsley ‘Giant of Napoli’ (Listed as ‘Gigante di Napoli’): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/parsley-gigante-di-napoli

Chard (‘Bright Lights’): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/chard-bright-lights

Spinach (‘Giant Winter’): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/spinach-giant-winter

Ammi majus: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ammi-majus

Ammi visnaga: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ammi-visnaga

Salvia viridis ‘Blue’ (‘Blue Monday’): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-viridis-blue

Black Scabious – Scabiosa atropurpurea (‘Black Cat’): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/scabiosa-atropurpurea-black-cat

Honesty (Lunaria annua ‘Chedglow’): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lunaria-annua-chedglow

Sweet Rocket (Hesperis matronalis var. albiflora): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hesperis-matronalis-white

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: [email protected]

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

From the first November blooms to the last flowers in May, narcissus can quietly carry your garden through the whole of spring. 

In this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Tom Stimpson joins Sarah as they unpack what they found on a whirlwind narcissus trip to the Netherlands – from finely bred, climate‑resilient varieties to pots that brim with scent on the coldest days. 

They share their favourite tried‑and‑tested daffodils for pots, borders and cutting, and the key characteristics they now look for.

In this episode, discover:

• How to plan a simple narcissus succession so you have daffodils in flower from November through to May
• The named varieties Sarah and Tom rate for pots, borders and cutting, such as ‘Avalanche’, ‘February Gold’ and ‘Starlight Sensation’
• Practical ideas for making your space work harder, including interplanting narcissus with dahlias for almost seamless colour

Products mentioned:

Narcissus ‘Actaea’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-actaea

Narcissus ‘Avalanche’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-avalanche

Narcissus ‘February Gold’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-february-gold

Narcissus ‘Tête‑à‑tête’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-tete-a-tete

Narcissus ‘Rip Van Winkle’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-rip-van-winkle

Narcissus ‘Silver Chimes’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-silver-chimes

Narcissus ‘Starlight Sensation’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-starlight-sensation

Narcissus ‘Pheasant’s Eye’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-pheasants-eye

Narcissus ‘Snipe’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-snipe

Narcissus ‘Sailboat’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-sailboat

Narcissus ‘Polar Hunter’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-polar-hunter

Fritillaria meleagris (Snakeshead Fritillary): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/fritillaria-meleagris-plum-white-mixed

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: [email protected]

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

If grey squirrels have ever stripped your pots overnight or raided a carefully planted bulb lasagne, there are ways to protect your perfectly composed pots.

Sarah is joined by Josie Lewis this week to share what’s actually worked at Perch Hill after years of trials – from cleverly laid thorny rose prunings to beautiful pot toppers that protect bulbs and earn their keep. 

In this episode, discover:

• How Sarah and Josie protect freshly planted bulbs from grey squirrels and other pests without relying on ugly or ineffective solutions
• Exactly how to use thorny stems as a simple, physical barrier over pots through autumn and winter
• Which ornamental plants make the best pot toppers over bulbs, and where each works best
• How to use edible pot toppers such as hardy lettuces and salad leaves to both shield bulbs and provide generous harvests before tulips emerge

Products mentioned:

Ammi visnaga: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ammi-visnaga

Ammi majus: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ammi-majus

Heuchera ‘Black Taffeta’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/heuchera-black-taffeta

Erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/erysimum-bowless-mauve

Wallflower ‘Sugar Rush Purple’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/wallflower-sugar-rush-purple-bicolour-f1

Cerinthe (Honeywort): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cerinthe-major-purpurascens 

Cerinthe 'Kiwi Blue':  https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cerinthe-major-kiwi-blue

Mizuna ‘Red Knight’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/mizuna-red-knight-f1

Salad Rocket: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salad-rocket-serrata

‘Red Frills’ Mustard: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/mustard-red-frills

Sea Holly (Eryngium): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/eryngium-x-zabelii-big-blue

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: [email protected]

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

We’re stepping once more into Tom Stimpson’s tiny town garden to see how he coaxes months of colour from the smallest of spaces. 

In this episode, Tom shares the mini bulbs that have truly earned their keep in pots and window boxes – from long-flowering iris and species tulips to cheerful muscari and dwarf narcissus. 

Together we explore simple planting “recipes”, clever table‑top displays, and a low‑maintenance watering approach that lets the weather do most of the work. 

In this episode, discover:

• How Tom turns a tiny town garden into months of spring colour using mini bulbs in pots, tabletops and window boxes
• Which small bulbs really earn their keep in containers – from Ipheion ‘Alberto Castillo’ and ‘Wisley Blue’ to favourite species tulips and dwarf narcissus
• Simple ways to plan a small-space bulb display, including easy paper layouts and colour planning
• A low-maintenance watering approach for bulbs in pots that relies on deep, occasional soaking rather than constant fussing
• Practical tricks for protecting bulbs from squirrels and how to give narcissi, muscari and Iris reticulata a second life in borders.

Products mentioned:

Ipheion ‘Alberto Castillo’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ipheion-alberto-castillo

Tulipa sylvestris: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulipa-sylvestris

Anemone blanda ‘Blue Shades’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/anemone-blanda-blue-shades

Muscari ‘Blue Magic’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/muscari-blue-magic

Muscari ‘Valerie Finnis’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/muscari-armeniacum-valerie-finnis

Narcissus ‘Minnow’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-minnow

Narcissus ‘Sailboat’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-sailboat

Scilla / Squills (Siberian Squill): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/scilla-siberica

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: [email protected]

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

If you love the idea of beautiful pots that don’t need replanting every five minutes, perennials in a container can be the perfect solution, and just as stunning as a bed or a border.

Tom Stimpson returns to discuss trusted “banker” perennials for containers – from long-flowering hellebores and acers underplanted with geraniums, to hydrangeas, heucheras and beloved agapanthus. 

You’ll hear exactly which combinations have stood the test of time in Tom’s garden as well as at Perch Hill, and how to get colour from winter through to late autumn.

In this episode, discover:

• How to design perennial pots that give you colour and structure from winter through to late autumn, without constant replanting
• Which plants Sarah and Tom rely on most strongly for containers 
• Practical planting combinations for small gardens, such as Pittosporum with hellebores and scabious, or an acer underplanted with Geranium ‘Rozanne’
• A realistic regime for watering, feeding and deadheading perennial pots so they stay sturdy rather than sappy

Products mentioned:

Helleborus niger: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-niger

Helleborus orientalis: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-orientalis-pretty-ellen-spotted

Helleborus ‘Ice n’ Roses Red’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-x-glandorfensis-ice-n-roses-red

Pittosporum ‘Bannow Bay’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pittosporum-tenuifolium-bannow-bay

Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Black Cat’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/scabiosa-atropurpurea-black-cat

Scabiosa ‘Kudo Pink’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/scabiosa-incisa-kudo-pink

Geranium ‘Rozanne’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/geranium-rozanne

Geranium ‘Dreamland’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/geranium-dreamland

Hydrangea ‘Madame Emile Mouillère’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-macrophylla-madame-emile-mouillere

Hydrangea ‘Little Lime’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-little-lime

Hydrangea ‘Limelight’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-limelight

Hydrangea ‘Little Fresco’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-little-fresco

Heuchera ‘Black Taffeta’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/heuchera-black-taffeta

Gaura ‘The Bride’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/gaura-lindheimeri-the-bride

Gaura ‘Flamingo’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/gaura-collection-for-pots

Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-nemorosa-caradonna

Salvia ‘Peach Melba’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-peach-melba

Verbena rigida: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/verbena-rigida

Linaria ‘Peachy’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/linaria-x-purpurea-peachy

Agapanthus ‘Midnight Blue’ / ‘Navy Blue’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/agapanthus-navy-blue

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: [email protected]

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

We’re approaching the perfect moment for bulb planting, and if you’re looking to force bulbs for a lovely indoor winter, then look no further than the sage advice of Tom Stimpson.

In this episode, Sarah and Tom - our Head of Horticulture - share their favourite bulbs to force indoors, and how to pot and water them, plus a few simple tricks to keep them flowering for weeks on end. 

In this episode, discover:

• The best bulbs to force indoors, from dramatic amaryllis and classic paperwhites to scented narcissus, hyacinths and tiny muscari
• Simple methods for planting, positioning and watering indoor bulbs so they flower reliably
• The importance of “mean” watering to avoid rot and keep flowers lasting longer
• Easy ways to move forced bulbs from house to garden so they go on to provide colour and cut stems for seasons to come

Products mentioned:

Amaryllis ‘Papillio’ (Papilio): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/amaryllis-papillio

Amaryllis ‘Green Magic’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/amaryllis-green-magic

Amaryllis ‘Nymph’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/amaryllis-nymph

Paperwhite Narcissus ‘Ziva’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-papyraceus-ziva-for-forcing

Narcissus ‘Polar Hunter’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-polar-hunter

Hyacinth ‘China Pink’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hyacinth-china-pink

Hyacinth ‘Delft Blue’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hyacinthus-orientalis-delft-blue-forcing

Muscari ‘Blue Magic’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/muscari-blue-magic

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: [email protected]

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

When cancer enters a life, it carries a profound impact on the places in which you seek comfort, which is why the human-centred gardens at Maggie’s centres are so unbelievably important.

In this powerful episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Sarah talks to Dame Laura Lee from Maggie’s, about how beautifully designed, garden-centred spaces are changing the experience of cancer care for patients and their families. 

In this episode, discover:

• How one simple question sparked the creation of Maggie’s Centres and a new idea of cancer support
• Why the design of a space can change how it feels to live with cancer
• What actually happens when someone walks from the hospital into a Maggie’s Centre
• How Maggie’s supports not only patients but their families and friends through the process
• The role of gardens and seasons as a gentle way to talk about hope, uncertainty, treatment, and even end of life

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: [email protected]

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

If you’ve ever let your vegetable garden wind down after summer, there’s a whole season you’re missing out on. 

This week on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Sarah breaks the year into two simple seasons and shows you exactly what to sow now so you can keep picking right through the grey months. 

From hardy salads and herbs to kales and chards, she shares 12 tried-and-tested crops that genuinely thrive in a UK winter. 

In this episode, discover:

• How to divide the gardening year into two simple seasons so you can plan for year-round harvests
• Which 12 tried-and-tested crops Sarah relies on for winter and early spring eating
• The exact sowing window for late-summer and early-autumn sowings, and why timing is crucial if you want strong plants going into winter
• Practical ways to cook and enjoy your winter veg, including Sarah’s wilted kale salad, and how to use herbs to brighten cold-season salads

Products mentioned:

Lettuce ‘Merveille de Quatre Saisons’:

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lettuce-merveille-de-quatre-saisons

Mustard ‘Red Frills’: 

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/mustard-red-frills

Flat-leaf Parsley ‘Giant of Napoli’: 

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/parsley-gigante-di-napoli

Spinach ‘Medania’: 

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/spinach-medania

Chard: 

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/chard-lucullus

Florence Fennel / Bulb Fennel (‘Romanesco’): 

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/florence-fennel-romanesco

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: [email protected]

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Stepping out into the garden with a sketchbook in hand is a novel, powerful practice which, given time, can transform the way we look at plants we think that we know like the back of our hand.

In this week’s podcast episode, Sarah is joined by artist and gardener Matthew Rice to explore how drawing becomes a kind of “recorded looking” that deepens our relationship with flowers and gardens - from choosing the right subjects and materials to capturing the feeling of a border in full swing.

In this episode, discover:

• How drawing functions as “recorded looking”, helping deepen your relationship with your garden
• Which flowers and garden plants are most forgiving to draw as a beginner, and practical ways to get started with garden drawing
• Where Matthew Rice finds inspiration, from historic watercolourists to everyday details in his own greenhouse and garden

Products mentioned:

Snakeshead Fritillaries: sarahraven.com/products/fritillaria-meleagris

Iris reticulata: sarahraven.com/products/iris-reticulata-blue-note

Courgettes: sarahraven.com/products/courgette-soleil-f1

Mint: sarahraven.com/products/mint-moroccan

Matthew Rice: https://www.instagram.com/matthewricewatercolours/

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: [email protected]

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

The National Garden Scheme is a national treasure, raising millions for charities and giving access to gorgeous gardens for those who need them most.

It’s a joy this week to be joined by former GP and National Garden Scheme CEO Dr Richard Claxton to explore how 3,200 gardens – from stately homes to hospital rooftops and new-build backyards – are transforming health and access to green space across the UK. 

In this episode, discover:

• How the National Garden Scheme quietly turns open gardens, tea and cake into £3.9 million a year for nursing and healthcare charities
• Why Richard Claxton believes gardening is one of the most powerful tools we have for long-term wellbeing
• How the NGS has evolved from stately homes and rectories to include community gardens, and small, relatable plot
• The story behind transformative projects like the intensive care roof garden at King’s College Hospital
• How balconies, new-build gardens and shared plots can play a vital role in our health and connection to nature

Richard Claxton:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richardclaxtongardens/
The National Garden Scheme: https://www.instagram.com/nationalgardenscheme/

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: [email protected]

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest